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interesting info on our friends the fungus gnats

Maybe you have seen this and maybe not.  Good info on the life cycle of fungus gnats and ways to get rid of them.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05584.html

Excellent article.  Really helps understand their habits better.  Thanks!!

getting some nematodes to take care of the larvae? I think not!

Grasa, there are many beneficial nematodes.  The good buys don't deserve a bad rap because of their cousins.

This is a well-timed article for me.  Last night I noticed two small transparent worms on a couple of cuttings I started rooting in moss a couple of weeks ago.  I have been scrubbing/bleaching my cuttings -- except for these, which were a last-minute rush job.  I figured the worms came in with the cuttings.  Now I think it is more likely that they are the babies of a couple of gnats I've seen flying around.

I'm glad to learn that the "not so aptly named fungus gnats" are actually feeding on fig roots and leaves, not just fungus in the soil as their name implies.  This motivates me to get rid of the few I have before they become a bigger problem.  I don't need yet another thing that can go wrong with getting cuttings to root!
Jim

I'm with you Jim, "before they become a bigger problem".  I've seen some fungus gnats around my cuttings, didn't think much of it since my cuttings show no ill effects YET.  Did the organic method for awhile... a good finger squash.  Still have gnats.  Started using a pyrethrin based spray and still have gnats.  Now also using BT which I hope with the pyrethrin spray will get the buggers.  I've probably been very lucky since I use MG Organic Choice potting mix to start my cuttings and it looks like there is a good amount of organic matter in the mix.  For now the worms are probably munching on the organic matter but it is just a matter of time before they find the tastey fig roots.  : (

Steve,
Good Information, thanks for posting.
Attached is a link to a post on fungus gnats with similar details on eradicating them.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1276672856&postcount=24

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